Neurotoxic potentiation is related to a metabolic interaction between p-bromophenylacetylurea and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride

Determination of the cytotoxic effect of Clostridium histolyticum culture supernatant on HeLa cells in the presence of protease inhibitors

Clostridium histolyticum culture supernatant contains numerous enzymes, which exert a cytotoxic effect on host cells. This includes lethal toxin, clostripain and high-potassium-sensitive toxin. Since the number of C. histolyticum infections increased during the last several years, it seems worthwhile to evaluate whether protease inhibitors, used for the treatment of many diseases, could influence toxicity, and thus, pathogenicity of C. histolyticum. In this study we evaluated in vitro the influence of four common protease inhibitors: aprotinin, phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), l-1-chloro-3-[4-tosylamido]-7-amino-2-heptanone-HCl (TLCK) and chymostatin on the toxicity of C. histolyticum supernatant towards human epithelial HeLa cells. We show that aprotinin has no effect, while PMSF, TLCK and chymostatin potentiate the cytotoxic activity of C. histolyticum, probably by hindering natural defence mechanisms of cells. In addition, PMSF and TLCK block clostripain enzymatic activity, while chymostatin leaves it intact. Elevated cytotoxicity of the supernatant is not related to the quantity of high-potassium-sensitive toxin, as was reported previously, since desalted supernatant still exerted its strong toxic effect. Our results show that addition of protease inhibitors for treating diseases complicated by concurrent C. histolyticum infection must require special attention.

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of p-bromophenylacetylurea in the female rat

1. This study has investigated absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of p-bromophenylacetylurea (BPAU) in the F344 female rat. BPAU and its metabolites were determined by HPLC. 2. Following a single p.o. dose of 150 mg/kg BPAU, the absorbed fraction of dosed BPAU was 65.9% and its half-life in the blood was 9.4 h. The relative distribution of BPAU (tissue/serum ratio) at 6 h (peak time point) after a single i.p. dose of 150 mg/kg BPAU was spinal cord (4.6+/-0.2) > liver (3.7+/-0.1) > brain (2.9+/-0.1) (mean+/-SD, n = 5), and they were significantly different from each other (p < 0.05). BPAU in spinal cord reached the highest level. 3. Absorbed BPAU was metabolized in vivo into three major metabolites. N'-hydroxy-p-bromophenylacetylurea (M1) was a dominant metabolite in tissues, whereas 4-(4-bromophenyl)-3-oxapyrrolidine-2,5-dione (M2) reached a high concentration in blood. N'-methyl-p-bromophenylacetylurea (M3) was mainly found in the urine. All three metabolites were excreted via the urine and together accounted for 87% of absorbed BPAU. 4. This study provides a basic understanding of BPAU absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination in rat.